Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-08-17

CONTENTS

(ANA-MPA) -- Prime Minister George Papandreou on Monday expressed his
satisfaction over the official visit to Greece by his Israeli
counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the first by a standing Israeli prime
minister, speaking during a joint press conference in Athens at the end
of bilateral talks.

Papandreou referred to very productive talks with his Israeli
counterpart, both on Monday and during his own visit to Israel
recently. He added that a joint Greek-Israeli committee will be set up
to enable cooperation to proceed more creatively and strategically.

"Relations between Greece and Israel are not competitive with other
bilateral or multilateral cooperation," the Greek prime minister said
when asked whether such a committee might create problems with
neighbouring Turkey. ANA-MPA

Papandreou also said a meeting was decided between the corresponding
tourism, finance and economy ministries so that mutual visits to the
two countries by businesspeople and related investment initiatives can
be organised.

"We do not believe that relations between Greece and Turkey and Israel
and Turkey are competitive to relations we are developing with Israel,"
Papandreou emphasised, adding that "regional cooperation is of vital
importance for good neighourliness, as well as for resolving problems
in the region, which are many."

On his part, Netanyahu stressed that "I agree absolutely with every
word that Mr. Papandreou said, it would be something unnatural if we do
not strengthen relations between Greece and Israel." He added that
Israel is interested in improving its relations with Turkey, but is
also interested in developing its relations with Greece in all
sectors.

Papandreou expressed certainty that the visit will be helpful in
developing bilateral cooperation, as well as cooperation in such
sectors as investments, tourism, energy, telecoms, IT services, water
desalination and innovation technologies.

Cooperation will also take place in the sector of renewable energy
sources, new farm technologies and security. ANA-MPA